PS 3507 

.0732 
|C8 

1919 

Copy 1 



THE GUISE 

OF THL 

ENEMY 



BY 
JAMES L DORAN 



The Guise of the Lnemy 



A Patriotic Play in Five Acts 



DtPICTlNG THE. WORK OF GERMAN 
AGLNT5 WITHIN OUR OWN LAND 
DURING THE RECENT WORLD WAR 



BY 
JAME.5 L DORAN 



COLUMBUS, OHIO 

THE F. J. HEER PRINTING COMPANY 

1919 



^cTd 53061. 



^UV i 1 liJia 



A 



^' 






CAST OF CHARACTERS. 



MRS. CAWLS, Matron, who chaperones a party of girls at the seashore, 

a kind and loving lady. 
GIRLS who are spending the summer in Krenlin with Mrs. Cawls : 

XITA COLLINS, short and pretty; a lover of nature, and her 

fellow-man. 
MARTHA STAPES, practical girl. 

MILDRED STONE, a self-willed girl, sometimes given to sarcasm, 
BERTHA CLAYTON, somewhat reserved. 
JOSEPH RICE, a permanent resident of Krenlin; possessed of an 

independent mind. 
THOMAS BLAKE, also a resident and a good friend to Joseph. 
ALLEN KIMES, a resorter, and a nephew of Mrs. Cawls. 
LT. HAROLD CORD, an American Army Lieutenant, who, is spending 

his vacation (furlough) in Krenlin. 
MRS. CORD, his mother. 

LEGER STIPSON, a bright, but uneducated waif, of about fourteen 
years. Should be a natural comedy character. (May be used 
as a colored cast.) 
THE ADMIRAL, a German officer of the submarine crew. 

COSTUMES — Modern. 

TIME— Summer of 1918. 

TLAIE OF PRESENTATION — Three hours. 



SYNOPSIS OF PLAY. 



ACT I. Sitting room in Mrs. Cawls's summer cottage at Krenlin, 

Elaine. On an arm of the Passamaquoddy Bay. 
ACT II. In the woods at the outskirts of Krenlin. 
ACT III. On the porch of Mrs. Cawls's cottage. 
ACT IV: 

Scene I. At Allen Kimes's cabin in the woods. Morning of 

August 17. 
Scene II. Same as Scene I. Night of the same day. 
Scene III. On Rock Island, near midnight of same day as in 
Scenes I and II. 
ACT V. Same as "in Act II. 



ACT I. (Scene tlie interior of Mrs. Cawl's cottage, at the 
summer resort in northeastern Maine.) 

Airs. Caicls — (Sleeping upon couch as girls come into house; 
girls waken her ; slie arises, kisses girls in turn, speaking) — 
Oh, girls, I am so glad you are here. I just arrived last 
night and was expecting you this morning and so haven't 
straightened things up much. In fact I thought that you 
girls wc'uld want to arrange tilings to suit yourselves, so I 
lay down to wait for you. and I guess I must have fallen 
asleep. How are you, anyhow? 

BcrfJia — (As girls seat themseh'es on boxes and chairs about 
the room ) — Just fine, Mrs. Cawls, how could we be other- 
wise? \\'hy, the thoughts of this vacation have kept our 
spirits at the very highest. And now to feel and know 
that our hopes are realized, oh. it is great. 

Airs. Caivls — And now do you wonder why I was so anxious 
that you who knew nothing but the confines of your own 
home town should take a vacation and why of all places I 
should choose Krenlin ? 

Bertha — No, Mrs. Cawls, this is wonderful; it is just such a 
place as that iii which I have always felt that I should like 
to live. The hills in the distance — 

Mildred — And the great ba}' here before us — oh, I could look 
forever upon those beautiful waves. 

Bertha — And to think those waves are not at all like mamma 
said they were at New Smyrna, Florida — why, there she 
said the waves were, oh, so high. 

Mrs. Cazcls — Yes, my dear, but you must remember that we 
are now on the shore of an arm of the Passamaquoddy Bay 
and that we are completely protected from the high waves 
of the ocean by Nova Scotia, which extends far enough to 
the south to break the larger waves, and Campabello and 
Deer Islands, which we can see here to the east oi us, serve 
to isolate us the further from the rough seas ; while, on the 
other hand, if my memory serves me correctly, New Smyrna 
is directly upon the coast without even so much as an island 
to protect its waters from being rough like thcGe of the 
great Atlantic. 

Bertha — To be sure; hov/ stupid of me not to have thought of 
that before. 



Mrs. Cawls — I should hardly say stupid, my dear ; you have 
never been to the coast before and it is quite natural that 
you should expect to see immediately upon visiting it for the 
first time, those things that others have seen upon their visits 
to the ocean even though your knowledge would tell you 
differently if you were to stop to reason. 

Mildred — But who would stop to reason upon being thrust into 
such a beautiful place? Reasoning is too difficult a thing 
for me to undertake while on a vacation. 

Drayman — (from outside) — ^ Baggage. 

Martha — (Having carried in suitcases as Mildred concludes) — 
Do not fear to undertake difficult things, Mildred. Here, 
lend a hand and help me carry this trunk to another room ; 
I am anxious to get things unpacked so that I can get out 
along the beach. 

Nita — Yes, girls, let's get our unpacking done and then we will 
be free to enjoy the beauties of the place. I for one am 
anxious to get into action. The sea, the woods in the im- 
mediate distance, everything seems to invite me to wonderful 
adventures. 

Martha — Adventure is right. Where adventure and excitement 
are let me be, I love it. (All stir about arranging things.) 

Bertha — So do all of us. 

Martha — • But some have an inner feeling, a sense of refinement, 
that keeps them from showing it. 

Mrs. Cawls — ^ That is but natural; society has become such that 
a girl's initiative and originality are dwarfed by the demands 
of eccentric people. But such is not the case here — every- 
one is here for pleasure, so enjoy yourselves in any way that 
is in harmony with your conscience. But be careful to let 
no one influence you to do wrong. 

MarfJia — Oh, to be sure, we did not mean anything otherwise, 
Mrs. Cawls. 

Mrs. Cazvis — Don't call me Mrs. Cawls, girls, call me mother; 
everyone else about here does. 

Girls — (At once) — All right (at the same time others say). 
Really I think that will be so much nicer (first conclude) 
and S'O much more homelike. 

Nita — But come, girls, let us fix things around according to the 
way we want them, instead of spending all our time chatter- 
ing; we're getting to be worse than a bunch of old maids. 

Martha — Or a Ladies' Aid Society. (As they recommence 
their work.) 

Mrs. Cawls — Well, since you are all going to get busy I expect 
I had better go to prepare an early lunch, then you can have 
a full afternoon on the beach, — or wherever you wish to 
spend it. (Exits center.) 

Mildred — The tennis courts for me. 



Martha — Well, I guess I'll keep on in this room just now and 
then, after it has been finished, decide how I shall spend the 
afternoon. 

Mildred — Then if our wcrk is to l^e done first, how would it do 
for Bertha and I to clean our bedrooms and fix our beds 
while you and Nita fix this room? 

Martha — Go to it then. (Mildred and Bertha exeunt door right ; 
Martha and Nita hang pictures, pennants, etc., at the same 
time making casual remarks. ) 

Mrs. Cazvls — (Entering at center accompanied by Allen Kimes) 
— Girls, you have often heard me speak 'of my nephew, 
Allen Kimes. He is to be here at Krenlin for the summer, 
and I trust that you may learn to know him well (intro- 
duces). I know he will enjoy your company. 

Allen — To be sure, I always enjoy the company of congenial 
yDung people. 

Mrs. Caivls — You see Allen is my only nephew, consequently I 
have become greatly attached to him and it will be a great 
pleasure to me to have him around. He is so good, so 
manly, and so strong. 

Allen — You flatter me. Auntie ; even those of the virtues that 
yDLi mention that I once possessed I fear have been greatly 
diminished because of sickness. I had not told you that I 
am here in hopes of regaining my health, had I? 

Mrs. Cazcls — Why, Allen, what do you mean ? 

Allen — Nothing, Auntie, except I have been sufifering consid- 
erably lately from the after efifects of pneumonia, the result 
of the "Flu", which I had about two months ago. 

Mrs. Cazvls (Excitedly) — Why, Allen, you — 

Allen — Now, Auntie, none of that. I was not very bad, and as 
mother thought you Avould worry about me we decided not 
to write yea about it. You know most of the deaths that 
occurred as a result of the "Flu" were cases where the 
patient worried considerably ; now supposing we had written 
to you and about that time you had taken the disease, the 
worry and the sickness might have caused you to keel over, 
too, so we didn't write. Then when I began to get better I 
started back to work too soon. The rest is the same old 
story. So the doctor thought I would do well to get out of 
office work for a while ; so to be far away from it I came 
here. This is my third week here and already I am begin- 
nis: to feel so much better. 

Mrs. Camls — Oh, Allen, I am so glad. But now T— (rising 
quickly and rushing out center) oh, goodness. I believe I 
smell potatoes burning. 

Allen — Now, isn't that just like Auntie? For that very reason 
mother or I dared not write her of my illness ; she would 
have foreotten all ether thinsrs. 



8 

Nita — You have a very fine aunt ; she is very fond of you. Yet 

I do not doubt that you did wisely in not telling her of your 

misfortune. 
Allen — Have you girls known her long, lor did you first become 

acquainted with her by answering her advertisements as a 

chaperone to this summer resort ? 
Nita — Oh, we have known her for years. I was born in her 

house, and she has been a very dear friend to our family 

ever since my people first knew her. 
Martha — ■ And we are all from the same town, and no one could 

live in the same town with your aunt without knowing her. 

She is one of the most noble characters I have ever known. 

She is always doing something to make others, and so far 

as possible, everyone happy. 
Allen — I am so glad you like her ; it may that it is a family 

trait that appeals to you. 
Nita — An expression of admiration on such short acquaintance 

would be construed as flattery, Mr. Kimes. But we certainly 

do trust that we may learn to know you better. Did you 

say that you had been here three weeks ? 
Allen — I have; and quiet weeks they have been. You see there 

is not much use made of these s.ummer resorts so far north 

as this one, until about the first of July. Previous to that 

time it is usually very quiet. 
Martha — Oh, dear, and this is only the first of June. 
Allen — Pardon me, Miss Stapes, but I have recently resolved to 

avoid all flattery. 
Martha — But why do you say that, Mr. Kimes ? 
Allen — Didn't Miss Collins state that such expressions on short 

acquaintance were nothing other than flattery? 
Martha — Oh, dear, I am not responsible for what she says. 
Allen — Again ! Perhaps you feel that our acquaintance has been 

of longer duration than when she spoke as she did ; and 

maybe you do not feel as she did about the matter — do you 

mean what you say, Miss Stapes? (Advances toward her.) 
Martha — I simply mean, Mr. Kimes, that I am sorry the resort 

will be so still and quiet for another month. 
Nita — You see, Mr. Kimes, that is an expression quite common 

for Martha, she uses it quite unconsciciusly. But when you 

hear me use such an expression you may have reason for 

thinking that - — oh, well, anyhow that our acquaintance has 

been of longer duration than when I spoke as I did a few 

minutes ago. 
Allen — Thank you. 
Nita — But now, Mr. Kimes, how shall we spend our time until 

the people come for the summer? I should think the place 

would be awfully dead? 
Martha — Yes ! That was what I meant. 



Allen — So one man has found it. 

Nita — Uh huh ! So you are Iciiely, are you ? 

Allen — No, I am not lonely ; why shoiuld I be ? The beach, the 
bay, the woods, golf, croquet, tennis, and just now the society 
of two beautiful young ladies, both of whom have already 
learned to love the only member of my family that they have 
known. No, it was not I of whom I was speaking. I am 
not lonesome, have not been lonesome, and as I will during 
the next few weeks have but little competition in the making 
of your acquaintance, I do not see that I need become lonely. 

Martha — Then whom do you mean? 

Allen — As a matter of fact I hardly know of anyone becoming 
lonely. I understood Miss ("ollins to say dead. 

A'ita — So I did; but in what way do you distinguish between 
the two expressions? 

Allen. — As sometimes used there is little difference, but with 
this man there was considerable. difference. I do not know 
that he was lonely. But I do know that he found Krenlin, 
or rather that Krenlin found him dead (as Allen concludes 
Joseph Rice appears at windo'w looking in). 

Nita — Tell us the joke. 

Martha- — Yes, do tell. 

Allen — You may well consider it quite a joke, but hasn't my 
aunt told you about it. She surely heard of it. 

Nita — No, do'tell. 

Allen — There is little for me to tell. Some time ago there was 
a young fisherman shot while out in his boat here upon the 
bay. No one heard the shot, but one morning a boat was 
seen drifting upon the water so two men went for it. As 
they came upon it the}' found this young fisherman lying 
dead in the bottom of it. There was a hole in its side made 
by the bullet on its deadly career. This seemed to indicate 
that the young fellow had sensed trouble and had prostrated 
himself within his craft, which was little more than a canoe, 
before the shot had been fired. I can tell you no more. The 
murderer has not been found. (Rice disappears from 
window.) 

Martha — How terrible ! 

Bertha — (Appearing in bathing suit) — Now for a plunge, 
come along, girls, I (seeing Kimes) — girls, I thought this 
cottage was to be reserved for us girls only. (Turns back 
crying as she goes out) — Mildred, the girls have a man in 
here. 

Mrs. Ca7i.'ls — fat center) — Lunch is ready, girls. Aller. won't 
you dine with us today? 

Allen — No. thank you. Auntie, I must be goin<y now. Girls, it 
ha? been a pleasure to me to know you. fMrs. Cawls exits.) 

Girls — Thank vou (from one; the other) the same to you.' 



lO 

Allen — (Continuing as though uninterrupted) — And may I 
hope as my dear aunt has said that we may learn to know 
each other much better? How about a game of tennis this 
afternoon ? 

j\Tita — How kind of you; I shall be delighted. Will you call 
for me? 

Allen — Pleased to, I shall call about two o'clock. You might 
ask the other girls to come, too, I'm sure we can beat them, 
can't we? 

Martha — ^ Do not be toe sure of that, Mr. Kimes; I beat your 
aunt last autumn in the only game she ever played, and I 
might respond with a ditto to another member of the family. 

Allen — Well, we'll drop the matter until two o'clock when we 
shall see. Until then goodbye. Exit door left.) 

Nit a — Goodbye. 

Martha — Goodbye, and be careful not to eat so much as to 
make you heavy on your feet. 

]\Jita — (to door right) — Girls, lunch is waiting, so hurry; you 
know we want a long afternoon about the resort. 

Martha — Uh huh, about the resort, eh? So you think you'll 
take a stroll after the game, do you? Well, if you are to 
get far with that man in your reconnaissance of this place it 
will be necessary that a third party accompany you. 

JSfita — ^Oh, I don't know. I do not think that he is the sort of 
a man to lose much time. 

Martha — My sentiments exactly ; nor do I think that he will 
have to walk all over town to speak his thoughts, while con- 
serving his time, unless — the third party should be along. 

Mildred — (entering door right) — You girls had better look 
out ; Bertha is sore because you did not warn her of a gen- 
tleman's arrival. 

Nita — Too many women are apt to embarrass a young man in 
his first attempt to become acquainted, especially when none 
of his former acquaintances are about to help him out. 

Martha — (As Bertha appears in door right) — Ah, here comes 
our young vaudeville actress ; but why the change of cos- 
tume ? 

BertJia — Girls, you have let me make a fool of myself, but I 
thought to take a plunge before lunch. 

Martha — We had no intentions of disappointing you. Say, but 
you surely should have made some hit. And now to think 
you made a change just as soon as he left. 

Bertha — Oh, girls, why — 

Nita — No whys about' it, let's get to lunch. Mother has been 
waiting for four minutes now (glances at clock). 

Martha — Oh, yes, girls, do hurry; our Miss Promptness has a 
■ date for this P. M. (All go out door center.) 



II 

Nita — (As leaving) — I have a tennis appointment at two and 
you are all invited to come with us. I am to be Mr. Kimes's 
partner, and he has already pronounced our victory. 

Mrs. Cazvls — (Enters door center, winds victrola) — This will 
be something- the girls will not find in many cottages about 
here. I was the only person who had a victrola here at 
Krenlin all last summer, but we might just as well have 
things as up to date here as they have them in the city. 
(Exits after starting victrola, Joseph Rice enters door left 
after pause.) 

Joseph — A joke, eh? So that is the way he regards the matter. 
Kimes, I have for some time felt that your presence here is 
for no good. The tragedy occurred fully a month before 
your arrival. Since then the matter has been spoken of but 
little, in hopes that the perpetrator might be found and 
brought to justice ; still he seems to know all about it. "A 
joke. I can tell you no more." To me there is no doubt as 
to his ability to tell more than any other living man ; but 
perhaps he thought to dispose of the subject abruptly lest he 
might incriminate himself. And then he might not have 
cared to dwell upon the subject longer for thoughts of mur- 
der usually seem unpleasant after the deed has been com- 
mitted. But, young man, look out ; each day you are wind- 
ing tighter about you the evidence of your guilt; justice can- 
not always be evaded. 

Mrs. Cazvls — (Entering to again start victrola) — ^^'ell, hello, 
Joseph; just as I expected. 

Joseph — And why did you expect me, mother?" 

Mrs. Cazvls — Do you think I am apt to forget your interest in 
girls ? 

Joseph — But — 

Mrs. Cazvls — They will be in just as soon as they have finished 
their lunch. Until then amuse yourself as best you can. 
Alaybe you do not want this thing grinding away? 

Joseph — No, no, mother, let her go, I like it ; it is something 
new to hear one of those things around here again, sounds 
like old times. 

Mrs. Cazvls— Is that so? (Exits.) 

Joseph — She's a dear old soul. ' Year after year she comes here 
to chaperone a party of girls, usually those who do not have 
all the privileges of society in their homes. She brings them 
here and leads and guides them as a mother. (Thomas 
Blake enters door left.) 

Thomas — Don't know about that, Rice, I've been around 
quite a little in my day, and in going my rounds I have come 
in contact with the mothers of quite a number of girls, and 
believe me none of them ever seemed to have the same con- 



12 

sideration for a fellow that Mother Cawls does. She can treat 
a fellow right, I'll tell you, when he comes calling around. 

Joseph — You said something then, Old Top. 

Thomas — ■ Did I ? I didn't know I was talking. Gosh, but it is 
handy to have some cne around to keep a fellow informed 
as to his vocal activities. 

Joseph — Well, Old Crab, what's loose now ? 

Thomas — My tongue as usual. Say, wouldn't it be scrumptious 
if these girls would be as congenial as Mother Cawls? 

Joseph — I hardly think sc Mrs. Cawls likes everyone ; and if 
each of these young dames takes that stand — well, I'll have 
to live alone another year. Say, Tom, did you see the girls, 
anyhow ? 

Thofnas — Golly no — my luck as usual ; but it seems everyone 
else did. Even old John Hoskins was telling down at the 
store that they were the prettiest bunch of petticoats that 
were ever placed in this market. 

Joseph — So that's the old duck's opinion, is it ? 

Thomas — Seems to be, so I came over to see how nearly he was 
right. 

Joseph — Ditto here. By the way, Tom, have you seen Kimes 
lately ? 

TJwmas — Yeh, saw him down along the beach this morning. 
He seemed to be looking around as though he had lost 
something. But I guess it wasn't anything very valuable, 
for when he saw me he began to whistle and walked up 
toward the town. 

Joseph — Well, Tom, do you know I am beginning to — 

Leger — (Entering with a rush) — By cracky, you shciild have 
seed the fire. Most excitement I've seed about this joint 
since the old black hen tried to make shredded wheat out o' 
the fudge Old Maid Callahan put out on the pump platform 
to cool last summer. 

Thomas — -What do you mean, fire, kid? 

Leger — Golly, man, but you should have seed her. If you 
knowed enough to let these here females alone you mightn't 
have missed so much. 

Thomas — But the fire ? 

Leger — That's what I came over to tell Mammy Cawls about. 
Golly, she's the only one can understand a kid. (Bolts into 
dining room, calling) Say, Mammy, you know old ( sees 
girls, turns and runs back) — Gosh. I didn't suppose they 
were in there. How's it happen you fellers are out here? 
Didn't they smile loud when they saw me? Gollv, but 
they're pretty — that little one with all that red ribbon up 
there across; her front (referring to big red bow worn with 
middle) — Gee! 



13 

Joseph — Now listen here, Leger, quiet yourself and tell us 

about the fire. 
Leger — Well, you know old (Mrs. Cawls enters with girls) — 

Gosh, here they come. Golly, but they're pretty. (Hides.) 

(Mrs. Cawls introduces girls. Thomas lingers near Nita. 

Leger snickers ; Joe drags him out. Girls laugh ; Leger 

pC'UtS.) 

Nita — ■ Don't let them bother you, little man ; come here to me, 
I will not laugh any more. 

Leger — (Going to Nita) — Golly, I like you best anyhow. 
Gosh, but you're pretty. (Thomas laughs.) Say, Tom, why 
didn't you kiss her? You do all the other girls. I would if 
my mouth wasn't all over sticky. (Turning to Nita) — 
Gosh, but you're pretty. 

]\Irs. Cazcls — vSay, Leger, I have some cookies out in the 
kitchen for you ; come with me. 

Lcgcr — Golly, Mammy, but I like you ; and I like your cookies, 
too. 

Joseph — But, Mother, Leger came over to tell about a fire, don't 
take him away yet awhile. 

Leger — Wait till I get my cooky. 

Mrs. Cawls — You shall have your cocky, but tell about the fire 
first. 

Lcgcr — I will if you'll give me two cookies. 

Mrs. Cazds — All right, Leger, you shall have two of them. 

Leger — If you'll make it three cookies Fll tell right away. 

Mrs. Caids — ■ W'ell, Leger, you may have as many cookies as 
you want. 

Lcgcr — Golly, but you're good. Mammy. Fll fill my pockets 
and if my hat didn't have the top out I could fill it, too. 

Thomas — But you must tell about the fire first. 

Lcgcr — W^ell, I'm goin' to, hain't I? Golly, give a feller a 
chance. (Girls aside remark to themselves about Leger's 
characteristics.") Well (starts to laugh) golly but it was 
funny. Old man Thorne was a sitting up there at the store 
with his feet propped up against one box and his chair lean- 
ing back against another box, and him sound asleep. When 
I comes in and seen him there, and the tobacco juice running 
out of his mouth, and down through his whiskers, just like 
it always does, you know. Well, his whiskers was a layin' 
down on his front clear down to here (makes motion as of 
whiskers about a foot long) so I slips up real still like and 
touches them with a lighted match and you ought to seen 
them burn. The old tobacco juice kept right on a runnin' 
but it didn't run fast enough to make a very good fire de- 
partment, and pretty soon old Thorne woke up and you 
ought to seen him scratch his whiskers and yell. I yells, 
"run for the bav, Misser Thorne. you're on fire," but he 



14 

gets it out after his whiskers is all burned off excepting two 

strings where the tobacco juice was thickest and then he 

tooked after me and called me nicknames, like men often 

call each other when they think there hain't no womens 

around. Golly, he was mad, and, Gee, you ought to seed 

me run. But, Gosh, I want my cookies. 
Mrs. Cawls — That was such a bad trick I really ought not to 

give you any cookies ; but you won't do it any more, will 

you, Leger? 
Leger -«- Golly no, Mammy, there hain't no more there to burn, 

they're all burned off. GcJly, but he does look funny. 
Bertha — But you naughty boy, you ought to be punished for 

doing such a trick ; that was awful. 
Leger — Golly, Mis§, don't you go to shootin' oft' like that or 

I'll call you some of the nicknames old Thorne called me. I 

know how they're said all right, I do. 
Mrs. Cawls — Don't mind her, Leger, come and have your cookies 

and then run on. 
Leger — (As he and Mrs. Cawls exeunt center — Golly, but 

you're good. Mammy. 
Thomas — Poor waif, everyone picks on him, it is no wonder 

that he's so bad. 
Nita — He seems so forlorn. I feel sorry for him. I'm going to 

make him my little crony this summer. 
Thomas — If you are adopting orphans I might inform you that 

I am alone in the world. ' 
Nita — And from Leger's way of characterizing your actions I 

would not be surprised to hear of you remaining so for some 

time. 
Mildred — Do you boys play tennis ? 
Joseph — Certainly. 
Thomas — (Speaking simultaneoulsy with Joseph) — We would 

like a game this afternoon if it would please you girls. 
Mildred — ^ We had hoped to play and will certainly enjoy having 

you fellows join the crowd. 
Thomas — As your partner ? 
Mildred — Sure, if it pleases you. 
Joseph — Well, he seems sort of selfish, so I shall divide my 

time among the three oi you. 
Martha — (Aside to Bertha) — He seems more thoughtful and 

polite than either Mr. Blake or Mr. Kimes. 
Joseph — Miss Collins, shall we oppose them first? 
Nita — My afternoon is already promised forth. I'm sorry but 

we'll have opportunities later. 
Joseph — To be sure. (To Bertha and Martha) — Which of you 

girls will be first to hold the court with me against all 

ocimers ? 
Martha — What do you say, Bertha? 



15 

Bertha — Vou ; 1 want to watch at first, and then you know I 
didn't prepare for tennis. (Toilet incomplete after taking 
olt bathing suit) — But I'll be out soon (Exeunt all except 
Bertha and Nita) — I guess my plunge is out of the ques- 
tion for this P. M., so I'll get ready for tennis, too; maybe 
there'll be an orphan come along and adopt me, at least for 
tennis. 

Nita — Sure ; get ready and come along, "any old place the gang 
goes" go ye there. Here comes Mr. Kimes now. I'll go to 
meet him. (Takes racket and goes 'OUt. Bertha goes out 
door right.) 

Legcr — (Entering from center with hands and mouth full) — 
Golly, but these cookies are good. 

[curtain.] 



ACT II. (Scene Outdoors in timber — Joseph and Thomas 
seated upon a log). 

Joseph — Tom, what do you suppose is Kimes's idea in building 
that cabin down there near the edge of the timber? 

Tlioiiias — Search me! I hadn't noticed the bloomin' thing until 
day before yesterday, and then didn't pay any attention to 
it ; just supposed old Hoskins was going to stock up in 
chickens again and was building a roost for them. The land 
there belongs to Hoskins, you know. 

Joseph — Yes, Iknow; but Hoskins was telling up at the store 
last evening that Kimes had given him five hundred dollars 
for the use of the land during this summer with an option 
on it at the same rate for five years should he desire to use 
it that long. He also promised to leave the cabin for Hos- 
kins after he was through with it. 

Thomas — Did he give any reason for wanting to build?? 

Joseph — Well, yes, sort of a reason ; said his health wasn't just 
what it should be and that he wanted to be a little away 
from the settlem.ent so that he can get more rest. 

llioinas — ^^ Golly, that ought to suit you, give you better chances 
to be with Nita. 

Joseph — I know, Tom. but I do not think that my chances with 
her are very good. 

Thomas — She hasn't given you your walking papers, has she? 

Joseph — No, but it is plain to be seen that Kimes holds the 
string to Cupid's bow there. I have tried by every fair 
means to outdo him and to thus raise myself in her esteem ; 
but it is no use, I can't even beat him at tennis when she is 
there. I have played with him at singles and doubles ; I 



i6 

alone have opposed him and Nita ; again with Nita as my 
partner we have played him alone, but it is always with the 
same result, Kimes never loses a set. 

Thomas - — That is due to yotir own lack of self control because 
you are in love with her. But subject your love and con- 
trol yourself, then leave Nita out of the games entirely for 
a few times and play with some one else. 

Joseph — ^Yes, but Nita would be there to watch us, for she's 
always there, and then it would be the same old thing. No, 
Tom, I'm out of luck ; but I'll try not to let her know that 
I am aware of my defeat and maybe when the truth is 
told and Kimes is found out I may have a chance. 

Thomas — Good idea Joe. Have you l3een able to find out any 
more about the fellow? 

Joseph — Not much. How about yourself ? 

Thomas — Not a bloomin' thing. I have been watching for him 
up there around the hotel but haven't seen a thing of him 
for three days, and then just saw him entering the door. I 
thought maybe he had gone away, but I didn't dare ask 
anyone for fear they would find out that we are watching 
him. 

Joseph — Well, you see he has been working down at his cabin 
for nearly a week and he spends most of his time there. 
Last night there was a light there at ten o'clock when I left 
the store. So I started down that way, but before I was 
half way there he put out the light and pretty soon I heard 
him coming, so I got under cover until he had passed and 
then I beat it for his cabin, but I couldn't find anything there 
that was out of the ordinary ; but as I was returning along 
the path he had taken, I found a paper which I took home 
with me and upon examining it I found that it was a 
diagram of the coast line here along the bay ; in the upper 
left hand corner was written. No. 932. 

Thomas — That sounds interesting. 

Joseph — Yes. And then this morning I saw the old boy looking^ 
along the path he went last night, so I came upon him 
rather unexpectedly and asked him if he had lost anything, 
to which he replied, "Yes, I guess I must have lost a paper 
that had some of my plans on it somewhere along here last 
night ; but it didn't amount to much, for there isn't much of 
a plan to that little coop of mine, anyhow". So I helped 
him look around for it until he gave it up and then I went 
on up town. 

Thomas — That's proof enough that he didn't want you to know 
what was on the paper. But what do you suppose he will 
do now? 

Joseph — I don't know ; but there was quite a wind last night 
and there is a strong probabilitv that he will conclude that 



17 

ihc paper was snatched up l\v it and carried out into the 
bay. and consequently he will just make another map of the 
place. By the way, Tom, the paper was ruled with the 
mercator's projections and the outer margin bore the stamp 
"Made in Germany." 

Thomas — I am not surprized. 

Joscpli — Nor here either. It only adds strength to our sus- 
picions. 

Thomas — Do you suppose we ought to disclose our suspicions 
to Hoskins so that he can watch Kimes's mail? 

Joseph — Not at present, Tom ; we wdll watch him in secret a 
^^hile longer. Otherwise he might become conscious that 
we are watching him. 

Thomas — But think of the harm that he could do to the coun- 
try in that time. I have no doubts but that our little bay 
here is a secret base of the enemies' submarines. 

Joseph — Neither have T, Tom; but things spread rapidly in a 
place like this and so I think it best that we have better 
grounds for our suspicions before we disclose them to a 
third party. Think of the harm that might be done if our 
enemies know that they are being watched. No, we better 
lie low for a while longer. 

Thomas — Perhaps so, but I think that we should all be better 
off if Kimes were out of here. 

Joseph — And so do I, but remember Germany may have other 
agents right here in our midst ; at any rate she can send 
others here as she did Kimes and we would have more 
difficulty in ascertaining them when the resort is thronged 
with people a little later in the season. 

Thomas — I hadn't thought of that. But here comes Leger. 

Leger — (entering from right) Golly, but you fellers are thick. 
Ever since them girls came to town that's all you've did is 
just sit around and talk about them. Gosh, you make me 
sick. 

Joseph — But what made vou think we were talking about the 
girls ? 

Leger — Golly, don't you think I know ? Couldn't I tell by the 
way you quit talkin' when you seen me" Gosh, anybody 
could tell you didn't want a feller to hear what you was 
sayin'. 

Joseph — But couldn't we be talking about something else, 
Leger ? 

Jaeger — Most fellers could but when 3'ou two git out by your- 
selves, that's all you think about. 

Thomas — But, Leger, we were not talking about the girls. 

Leger — Then you better see a doctor quick; you're not yourself 
at all, you hain't a bit natural. But, Golly, I'd like to know 
wdiat else you'd be talking about. 



i8 

Thomas — There are lets of things. 

Joseph — Say, Leger, why do you suppose Allen Kimes is build- 
ing that cabin over there? 

Leger — Gcllv, wish T knowed. I hope he hain't goin' to use it 
for Miss Nita cause 1 want her for my girl. Gosh, but she's 
pretty. I'm goin' to give her half my chewin' gum. 

Joseph —But why do you like Nita more than the others? 

Leger — Cause she's the only one that likes me. Golly, think I'm 
fool enough to waste my time likin' a girl that don't like 
me ? Not much ; I hain't as big a fool as you think I am. 
But I must go and give her part of my chewin' gum before 
I gets the juice all chewed out. (exits L). 

Thomas — If ever there was a pest, he is it. Let's follow him 
and see if he does offer Nita any gum. 

Joseph — Any old excuse to get near those girls, eh ? But I 
should worry, I like their company fully as well as you do. 
(They exit left.) 

Allen — (Entering after a pause; bites finger nails, appearing 
uneasy). It surely does beat anything what I did with that 
paper. Surely I must have lost it. And I would not have 
anyone find it for the world. I surely hope it has blown 
out into the bay. I'll draw another anyhow. But if that 
one is found and there should be anyway of finding out 
who lost it people would be apt to suspect my motive here, 
(scratches head). 

Nita — (Coming from right.) Hello Allen, I am surprised to 
see you here. I would have expected you to be busy down 
at your hut at this time of day. 

Allen — Surely a little rest will do no harm. Sit down (she sits 
beside him) But what brought you here? 

Nita — I just started out for a walk and I just couldn't resist 
coming for a stroll in the woods, they are so beautiful. Do 
you know I am growing to love this place more and more 
each day-" I only wish I were a naturalist, or something. 
Wouldn't it be grand to always live in God's great out-of- 
doors : to hold communion with all nature, the trees, the 
birds, the plants, everything. 

Allen — Truly, you are a naturalist, for you love those things. 
Why do you consider that you are not ? 

Nita — Why, I do not know the name of a single wild plant 
or tree in this region. 

Allen — Maybe not, but you know the differences befween them, 
and vou appreciate everything ; that is sufficient. Remem- 
ber the names are man made. 

Nita — Yes, I know, Allen, but I wish for more than a personal 
appreciation of God's great handiwork. I long to be able to 
pass that appreciation on to others ; to help them in seeing: 



^9 

the never ending beavities abovit us. thus lifting them to 
something higher, grander, and nobler. 

Allen — Nita. you vour.sclf are the noblest of God's creatures. 
Your life, your ways are a reflection of Him. Your thoughts 
are inspired of Him — always of others. Willingly, i be- 
lieve, would you lay down your life for the things you love. 
For these things 1 love you, Nita ; I love you more than you 
could ever suspect. 

Nita — I am afraid you are trying to flatter me, Allen. But 
truly, I would be all that you have said. And if the time 
ever comes when I shall be compelled to choose between this 
life, which is so sweet, and the things that I love, let it be the 
latter. 

Allen — Well spoken, indeed ; only one wholly devoted to a cause 
could speak as you do. How I would that I might be 
favored with the love of one such as you. 

Nita — No harm could result from trying, I am sure. 

Allen — Thanks for that. Those words are an inspiration in 
themselves. And I shall begin right now to try to make 
myself worthy of such a love. I shall always hold your 
example before me as my guiding star, letting it beckon me 
on to a fuller realization of the values and pleasures of life. 
But how long must I wait before I may call you my own ? 

Nita — If when this dreadful war is ended, you still love me ; 
if then vou feel as you do now, then Allen, then will 1 
trust my future happiness to you. 

Allen — Thanks for that my dearest. Shall we seal the contract 
now ? 

Nita — Yes, if it so pleases you. Here under Heaven's blue 
dome, with only God and His handiwork as witnesses, let us 
pledge cur hearts to each other. (They embrace.) 

[curtain.] 



ACT HL (Scene: Porch of Mrs. Cawls' cottage; Mrs. Cawls 
and girls seated thereon, Mrs. Cawls crocheting. Bertha and 
Martha knitting.) 

Mrs. Cawls — Girls, Mrs. Cord is going to bring her son, the 
lieutenant, over this afternoon, so I wish that you would 
remain here with me and help entertain him. He is just a 
young fellow and I know will enjoy becoming acquainted 
with the young folks about the place. 

Mildred — All right mother, we will stay right here, won't we 
girls ? 

Girls — (All) Sure (some say) certainly. 



20 



Mildred — We can bring the victrola right out here on the porch 
and have a regular jolly good time, can't we mother? 

Mrs. Cazvls — To be 'sure ; use the victrola as though it were 
your own, remember that that is what it is here for. (Mil- 
dred enters house for victrola.) Do you want me to help 
you ? 

Mildred (Reappearing at door with victrola) No thanks, Mother, 
I'll get along all right with it. 

Martha — ■ Now if you girls will get your knitting we can have 
a regular old fashioned knitting bee. 

Mrs. Cazvls — A good idea, Martha, but let's not call it a knitting 
bee, let's call it a club for war work. That will make it 
appeal to the lieutenant and I know will please his mother. 

~A^z/a — Well Martha and Bertha will have it on us here, won't 
they Mildred? For they will have more. knit than we will 
even if we are to start in now. Consequently they will be 
the ones to appeal to the lieutenant. 

■Mildred — Not on your life. We will tell him w^e each have 
knit one sweater and are just starting on our second ones. 

Nita — That might work al^ right for you, but not for me. Why, 
I couldn't say that if I would without my falsehood being 
found out, for I cannot knit at all. 

Bertha — Well, don't let that worry you. Really I think you 
girls ought to give me a chance. Surely it is about my turn. 
It is plain to be seen that Mildred has captivated Tom 
Blake, while Martha is playing the high card with her oat- 
meal, I mean Rice; and as for Nita there — well, she will 
be calling Mother, auntie before very long, if appearances 
count for anything. 

Mildred — Well, if it is turns that you have been waiting on, no 
wonder you are no more fortunate than you are. Remem- 
ber love does not always take turns. But as far as I am 
concerned you can have the old lieutenant, I am sure I do 
not want him. 

Bertha — I don't suppose you want to take any chances with 
him, for to do so you would have to neglect Tommy just a 
little, and you think best to hold on to what you already 
have cinched, 

Mildred — Oh, I don't know. Anyway he would be better than 
an army man. If you have a soldier, you only have him 
occasionally, but if you get a man like Tom you have him 
all the time. 

Bertha — Yes, but who wants a stick-tight? I know if I met a 
soldier who suited me I would be willing to part with him 
part of the time if the country needed him; and feel a great 
deal more proud of him than I would to have one who 
couldn't hear his country's call because he was tied to his 
little angel's apron strings. 



21 

Mildred — That sounds all right, but supposing he should be 
called across, then maybe you would be wearing mourning, 
in a few months. 

Bertha — I would feel sad no doubt. But if I loved a man 
enough to marry him, I am sure I would not begrudge my 
country the first right to him in time of peril. At the very 
most, his life could be no more sweet to me than it would 
be to him. But as for Lieutenant Cord, I have not said 
that I wanted him. I only asked for a chance. You know 
my chances do not always materialize. 

Mildred- — I'll say they don't. But it is not your fault, poor girl. 
But do .your best this time Bertha, and maybe you might 
succeed, and if you find you need any help I'll help you- 
And do not hold back because he is a soldier. Even if he 
does have to cross the waters and gets blowed to — pieces, 
you will get his ten thousand, so why should you worry? 

Mrs. Cazds — Girls, do not jest in such a manner over such a 
serious thing. Death itself is serious indeed; and to think 
that thousands upon thousands of ovu^ boys, the choice youth 
of the land, are daily giving their lives to the cause. All the 
money in the world cannot pay for the sacrifices that they 
have made. 

Mildred — But, Mother, I did not mean to make light of the 
question of death. But you know that there are hundreds 
upon hundreds of young girls who have married soldiers 
just to get their life insurance. 

Mrs. Cazuls — Yes, dear, that is true, every word of it. Yet 
there are many who have married out of true love; not that 
they might receive the insurance, which however most of 
them will, but to show their willingness to -share in part, as 
only a wife can share, some of the hardships that this terrible 
war is causing them to undergo. No, we must not judge 
too harshly, for we may judge some wrongly. And do not 
always blame the girls ; remember many of them marry to 
comply with the wishes of the boys, who know full well that 
they must cross the sea. 

Kita — But, Mother, do you think that that is right ? Is it fair to 
the boy, and especially to his mother? Think of the hard- 
ships a mother undergoes as she beholds her boy, he whom 
she nursed at her own breast, he whom she reared, guided, 
and fostered from his babyhood through his boyhood days, 
teaching him to walk and talk, and later directing him 
through the tr3dng period of young manhood, giving of her 
very soul to him in the precepts she lived before him. Is it 
justice to her, when her heart is heavily laden, as she watches 
him go forth, she knows not where, nor whether she may 

;. ever again gaze upon his earthly form? She sees in rapid 
succession all the hardships of the camp and of the battle- 



field; she hears the cannons' roar; she sees the bursting 
shells; and in the midst of it all she sees her bov — a mo- 
ment, and she looks again, can she be mistaken? No. no! 
In her vision she sees him covered with his own blood being 
borne from the field of battle. To this, would we add the 
breaking of home ties by laying the foundations of another 
home for that mother's boy? 

Mrs. Cazvls — Nita. I admire the stand that you take; all that 
you have said is true, but you will not find many of our 
young men and girls who think as you do. But if what you 
say is wrong for one it is equally wrong for both. The boys 
perhaps are the more to blame because they become forget- 
ful of their own mothers. 

-Nita — Mother, I know the boys are to be blamed; I know that 
they seem forgetful of 'their mothers' happiness, but re- 
member that "love is blind". Each sees only the girl whom 
he adores. He, enraptured with her love, forgets that a 
mother's love is rooted deeply in the past. But in just such 
times as these,, a girl should exert her mental powers. She 
can better appreciate the mother's viewpoint than can that 
mother's son and consequently she should act accordingly. 
Under such circumstances as now present themselves to 
those about to cross the ocean, the majority of the boys 
propose marriage, fearing that she whom he loves might not 
otherwise prove true. But that is a weakness on his part. 
Find me a girl who will not be true to her love when she is 
single, and you will find that she will be less true if married. 
I am sure that if I loved a young man and he should ask 
me to become his wife, I should ask him to wait until this 
awful struggle is over before our relations could become 
more than an engagement. Then if his love had not weak- 
ened I would gladly give myself to him. 

Mildred — Do not be too sure about that, Nita ; • maybe you 
have not had anyone to propose to you. 

Mrs. Cazvls — I believe Nita can well follow the way she has 
■ just laid before us. I only wish that all girls were like her. 

Martha — Then our boys would have to go without sweaters. It 
has been more than a year now since the United States de- 
clared war and as yet she hasn't learned to knit. 

Nita — Martha, you are right. My expressions of interest in the 
boys in the struggle and my efforts in behalf of their welfare 
are not consistent. I should have long ago learned to knit ; 
will you teach me today? 

Martha — I will do my best, but I cannot promise you any fur- 
ther than that. Get your needles and some yarn and get over 
here. (Nita enters house, gets needles, returns, and sits be- 
sides Martha who shows her how to knit; they make casual 
remarks durino- meantime ) . 



23 

Mrs. Caids — (After pause). Here come the lieutenant and 
his mother. (Rises. The lieutenant and Mrs. Cord enter 
from left.) How do you do, Mrs. Cord, come right on up. 
We just came out onto the porch to await your coming. 
(Mrs. Cord introduces lieutenant.) And how do you do. 
(He makes reply as "how do you do, Mrs. Cawls"). I am 
certainly pleased to meet you. A man in khaki is a rather 
unusual thing about here. You are the first of our Ameri- 
can boys that I have seen in Krenlin. (Introduces him to 
girls.) I saw a couple of Canadian boys over here the other 
day but they were the first. How long a furlough have vou? 

Lt. Cord — Just a month. 

Mrs. Cazvls- — How fortunate. You will be here at just the 
right season to enjoy our resort. I understand from your 
mother that you have been stationed at Camp Lee, Virginia. 

Lf. Cord — Yes, I was commissioned out of the second officers 
training school at Fort Benjamin Harrison, last November, 
and was immediately sent to Lee. 

Nita — And where is your home, Lieutenant? 

Lt. Cord — Castobia, Ohio, a small country town about thirty- 
seven miles east of Cincinnati and along the Ohio River. 

Nita — Is that so ? We live at La Grange, which is also along 
the Ohio, just a little way south of Steubenville. 

Lt. Cord ■ — That seems strange, doesn't it ? To think that we 
should meet in this far away place in Maine, and that we 
all come from the banks of the Old Ohio. Still there is a 
great distance between our homes. 1 believe. If I am not 
mistaken Steubenville is north of Wheeling, isn't it? 

Nita — Yes. about thirty miles ; La Grange is but twenty-two 
miles north. But do you know that I always feel like I am 
right at home when I meet with some one who. in his 
home life, has something in common with that which I have 
known ? 

Lt. Cord — So do I. It permits one to break away from the 
monotonous conversational subjects of a general interest to 
something more specific ; something of a more personal in- 
terest, and especially is that the case after one has been 
away from home for some time. 

Nita — That is just the way I feel about it. Did you get home 
from camp very often? 

Lt. Cord — I 'was home for six days when I received my com- 
mission, but that was the last. 

Mildred — \\'hy. that seems strange. Some of the boys out our 
way that went to Camp Sherman, got home every few 
weeks. 

Lt. Cord — W^ell. with us. week-end passes were given quite 
frequently, but those extended only from Saturday noon 
until reveille Monday morning, and that did not give enough 



24 

time for me to get home and back. However, Mother came 
out to camp a couple of times and I would get time off to 
be with her. That made life seem more homelike. 

Bertha — I should think so, and now to think that vou have a 
month with her here is certainly grand. 

Lt. Cord — Yes, just as soon as 1 found out that I was to get 
a furlough I could not help thinking how nice it would be 
for Mother, Raymond, and I to spend the time in some 
pleasant- sumn:ter resort, (Mrs. Cawls and Mrs. Cord who 
have been conversing aside, enter house) so I wrote to 
Mother and asked her to close our home and come here for 
the summer and told her that I would join her here in July. 

Bertha — How nice of you. 

Lt. Cord — Well, I felt this way, who knows but that it may be 
the last time that we may ever be together on earth, so why 
not have it as easy and pleasant as possible for mother 
during that time. I know that mother often thinks of our 
next parting as maybe our last, although she tries not to 
let me know it. So knowing, as I do, that had I spent this 
vacation at home she would simply have tired herself com- 
pletely, always doing something to add to my comfort, I con- 
cluded that it would be best for her to come here and then 
she would not always see the work before her and conse- 
quently she could get some enjoyment out of our time to- 
gether. So I wrote a secret letter to Raymond telling him 
what I was going to do and why, and that if when Mother 
received the letter with my suggestion he would coax her 
to come, and agree with her that he would wash all the 
dishes, sweep the floors, and anything just to get to cotne, I 
would give him fifty dollars. It worked. At first Mother 
objected and wrote to me that she wished that I had never 
suggested such a thing, that Raymond simply could not give 
up the idea ; but finally she consented and how much better 
and more enjoyable it is for her. Raymond, true to his: 
promise, is up at the cottage now washing the dishes. 

Mildred — He must be a Prince of a little fellow. Not many 
boys would remember a promise such as that one, once they 
got to a place like this. But how nicely things have turned 
out for you. In years to come your mother will look back 
with fond recollections to this, which for all .we know may 
be as you say, your last summer with your mother. 

Nita ■ — Mildred, why do you speak as you do? Lt. Cord has not 
gone across as yet, and, though he may go soon, why should 
we harbor feelings of fear concerning his welfare? Let us 
not think of the dark side only. There is no occasion so 
discouraging but that a ray of hope, however faint it may 
be, can be discerned. God still rules in his universe, and if 
by His divine plan Lt. Cord is called upon to make the 



supreme sacrifice, it is well. Surely nothing earthly can be 
more commendable than the giving of one's life for the 
country he loves. 

Lt. Cord ■ — • A good philosophy indeed, Miss Collins. I wish 
that all of us could bespeak ourselves so freely of our con- 
fidence in Him who controls all our destines. (Mrs. Cawls 
and Mrs. Cord reenter from house). 

Bertha — But, Lieutenant, will you return to Camp Lee when 
your furlough has expired? 

Lt. Cord — I hardly think so. My company is scheduled to sail 
from Baltimore, August twenty-eighth, so if all is well I 
shall rejoin it there. 

Mrs. Cawls — Lieutenant, you should not speak so freely of the 
plans of the government ; you do not know who may be 
waiting to snatch up every little remark you make and bear 
it to our enemies. 

Lt. Cord — I know, Mrs. Cawls, but I do not fear so long as I 
am among friends. 

Mrs. Caii'ls — But you have just met us for the first time. 

Lt. Cord — Yes, but Mother has known you and the girls here 
for several weeks. 

Airs. Cazvls — That is true, but even at that, have you not be- 
trayed the trust of your government by speaking of the date 
of your sailing? Let me advise you, young man, to be more 
careful as to how you guard the trust the nation has confided 
to you ; by so doing you may also guard the lives of the boys 
who might otherwise be subjected to submarine attacks, if 
the date of their sailing is made known. Surely the gov- 
ernment desires such information concerning her troops kept 
as secret as possible or she would publish broadcast the date 
of the sailing of all troops. So please be more careful here- 
after. Remember German trickery knows no limits. 

Mrs. Cord — Harold, Mrs. Cawls speaks wisely. It would be 
well if you would heed her advice, then surely no harm will 
be done. However, your viewpoint is not to be disregarded. 
I agree with you that one need have no concern wdien with 
friends such as Mrs. Cawls and the girls here. Yet they 
might at some time, wholly unintentitDnally and perchance 
unconsciously drop a remark that would become the work- 
ing basis for an ever watchful sympathizer of our enemies. 

Mrs. Cawls — That is right, beware ! Remember the fact that 
you are an army officer makes statements from you all the 
more desirable. Then again you do not know who may be 
lurking unseen to catch any news you might utter. 

Lt. Cord — Very well, I stand corrected, and if it will console 
you and Mother in the least I shall hold my military 
knowledge entirelv to myself. 



26 

Bcrtlia — Just that, that might endanger our boys if such were 
to become known. 

Lt. Cord — Oh, to be Sure. Who are those fellows coming this, 
way? 

Mildred — That is Mr. Blake to the right, the other is Mr. Rice. 

Bertha — And Mildred might add that they are quite frequent, 
visitors here at our cottage. 

Lt. Cord — Perhaps they are headed for this place, now? 

Bertha — Without a doubt. 

Lt. Cord^ (Reaching for hat) Then am I intruding? 

Bertha — Not at all. 

Martha ■ — • They will be pleased to know you, I am sure ; Mr. 
Rice expressed himself thusly at tennis the other afternoon. 
(Boys enter from right, Mildred and Martha come down 
from porch to meet them. Movement very informal and 
easy. Returning they introduce boys to the lieutenant, 
casual remarks are passed). 

Joseph ■ — I had heard of your arrival within our little resort and' 
I have been quite desirous of making your acquaintance. 

Thomas — The appearance of a man in uniform in our quiet 
little resort v/ill serve to remind us that we are at war. 

Mrs. Cazvis — Then what a blessing that he has come. Krenlin 
is as happy and as jovial a place as it ever was ; and to walk 
along the beach or about the resort one would never suspect 
that a great war is upon us. 

Thomas — So I meant, Mother. His presence will surely awaken 
the people from their indifference. 

Lt. Cord — I surely hope so, if as you seem to imply they are 
neglectful or unmindful of their duty to our country. How- 
ever, I would not that they be constantly reminded of the 
great war's existence, for such would mar individual pleas- 
ure ; and we must keep the people's spirits at high pitch or 
their feelings of horror will detract from the enthusiasm in 
the cause and thus cause our boys to become more dis- 
couraged. (Mrs. Cawls and Mrs. Cord reenter house). 

Thomas — I presume that is right. Have you been overseas. 
Lieutenant ? 

Lt. Cord — Not as yet, but I am getting anxious for the ex- 
perience. (Leger enters from left and comes upon porch) 
Camp life becomes so monotonous. 

Leger — That's the way I likes to hear you talk Misser Lieuten- 
ant. Golly you fellers sure have some chance in this war,, 
the fellers in the Revolution wasn't in it atall with you. 

Lt. Cord — How do you get that, Leger? 

Leger — Golly, man, the fellers what fought on our side them 
days didn't get to see very much. But gosh, you fellers 
have a splendiferous opportimity to see a heap of this world. 



27 

and mij^^htv good chances of seein' some of the next. (Ah 
laugh.) 

Nita — It is not right to speak that way', [.eger. You are mak- 
ing fun; remember war is awfuk 

Leger — Sherman said somethin' like that; but gollv, lie dicbi't 
know, cause lots of people died then and it wouldn't be like 
what you told me ii,i Sunday School, Sunday. \'o\x said that 
people what went to Heaven didn't have to go to the bad 
place first. Btit maybe Sherman didn't get to go to Simday 
School to you. (During latter part of his discourse, Leger 
has taken an apple from his pocket and has been rubbing 
it on his shirt sleeve) 

Nita — I hardly think that he did, Leger. But now, aren't you 
going to give me a bite of your apple ? 

Lcgcr — (Biting otit chtink and ottering it to her) Golly yes, Ld 
do anything for you. 

Nita — Leger, I am ashamed of you. That was a very dirty 
thing for you to do. You may eat all of the ap]:)le if that is 
your way of dividing it. 

Leger — Golly, Miss Nita, what you so spunky about? Didn't 
you ask for a bite ? How did yoit suppose I was gom' to 
know how much a bite was if I didn't measure it? 

Lt. Cord — Say, Leger, did you see Raymond this afternoon <! 

Leger — Golly no, what's wrong with him? 

Lt. Cord — Nothing at all, but he was wishing he had some one 
to go bathing with him this afternoon and I thought maybe 
you wottld like to go with him. 

Leger — Golly yes, so I do. How did you guess it? Your head 
must have been made for thinkin'. (Exits to left, in haste.) 

Joseph — Good work, old fellow. You stirely got rid of him 
easily. 

Thomas — I should say so. My, but isn't he a caution? 

Nita — Yes, but he has a very good heart and if he is treated 
properly he will make a good man yet. 

Bertha — Perhaps so, but Fm afraid you and I would difter on 
w^hat would be proper treatment when it came to handling 
him. 

Lt. Cord - — I am sure that I. would not care to undertake hand- 
ling one such as he. Tt would be altogether too big a task 
for me. 

Mildred — Here too: but changing the subject, what do you 
boys say to a game today? 

Joseph — (To lieutenant ") Lieutenant, do you play tennis? 

Lt. Cord — I used to, but it has been more than a year since I 
tried my hand at the game. However, if you folks can 
bear with my awkwardness, I should like to play again. 

Nita — Then you boys wait until we get our tennis shoes and 
then we will be readv to zo directlv to the courts. 



28 

Lt. Cord — That is right. I will have to get my shoes, too. I 
wonder if Mother hroiight them from home. 

Bertha — I shall ask her. (Girls enter house, meanwhile boys 
engage in casual ccaiversation. Bertha returning continues) 
Yes, Lieutenant, she says that they are in your brother's 
trunk. So if you will wait until we change our shoes we 
shall walk up that way with you for them. 

Lt. Cord — Thank you, that will be very delightful. 

Joseph — Now, Lieutenant, we are alone, an opportunity I have 
been looiking for for some time, in fact ever since you landed 
here. I have something of importance to tell to you, can 
you promise to keep it quiet? 

Lt. Cord — That, Mr. Rice, I think I can, but only with the un- 
derstanding that it is something that does not involve any 
wrong or a violation of any of my previous promises. 

Joseph — This is for the cause of the country. There have been 
some strange happenings about this place lately ; a few 
months ago a young fisherman was killed while out in his 
boat, here on the bay ; a short time thereafter Tom here and 
I became suspicious of a certain person, whose presence 
about the place was not known until some time after the 
murder.- We began to watch him and one evening while 
following him I found a paper that he had dropped. I know 
that it belonged to him for I came upon him the next mcrn- 
ing as he was looking for it. The paper contained a draw- 
ing of the bay here, and was stamped "Made in Germany". 

Lt. Cord — We must get that man ; is he still in Krenlin ? 

Joseph — Down there by the &dge of the timber. He has built 
a cabin wholly apart from the rest of the settlement, and 
there he spends most of his time. 

Lt. Cord — We will go down and raid the place (rising and 
starting) . Come on. 

Josepli — Not so fast, Lieutenant; wait until tonight or if neces- 
sary later. We may thus learn more before he suspects us 
and our motives. If we were to go now he could not help 
but see us before we could reach his cabin and thus we could 
learn nothing. If we wait until some dark night we can 
slip up to his cabin under the very cover of darkness and 
maybe learn something before he becomes aware of our pres- 
ence. In the meantime we must watch him whenever he 
gees to the postoffice to see if he sends or receives any mail. 
If at any time his mail is of such a nature as to cause us 
to feel that we are justified we can disclose our suspicions 
to Hoskins and let him watch the mail. It will also be nec- 
essary that Ave watch closely that he does not escape from 
here. Aside from these two precautions I think it will be 
best for us to keep shaded and watch developments. As yet 
he does not even suspect that he is being watched. 



29 

Lt. Cord — You are right. I would have spoiled all your care- 
fully laid plans if you had let me have my way. As you say, 
no harm can be done if we keep him from getting news to 
and from the place either by mail or by personal ccaveyance 
and by waiting we may be able to learn something of impor- 
tance. If it should be that he plans to make the bay a base 
for submarines we may be able to learn something definite 
concerning their arrival and then we can communicate the 
same to Washington and may thus secure the destruction of 
the entire fleet that Germany may send across here. But I 
hear the girls coming now ; we must keep this thing exceed- 
ingly quiet. (Girls enter.) Well, you girls look as though 
you were regular professionals at the game. I am afraid I 
will present a rather strange appearance on the court, ap- 
pearing as I shall be obliged to, in uniform. 

Bertha Oh. I don't think so. Is everyone ready? 

Thomas — The gang's all here. 

Bertha — Then let's go. 

[curtain.] 



ACT IV. Scene I. (Wood scene with cabin to left; Kimes 
seated within cabin opposite open door.) 

Allen — Nearly two months have passed since I finished laying 
my line, thereby completing my connections with the sea. 
Still in that time only two submarines have entered the bay; 
one having entered early in the evening of July the seven- 
teenth. That craft left the bay about eleven that night. The 
other entered at about four in the afternoon of August 
second and did not leave our waters until about seven the 
next morning. I wonder if they could have changed their 
plans and landed elsewhere ; yet I hardly think so for Ger- 
man obstinacy and determination usually accomplish their 
ends. Perhaps the blockade of the Allies and the patrol of 
the United States along the coast have prevented them from 
entering the bay. But that should not make them so late as 
all this. They are already a couple of weeks past due now, 
I believe. (Looks at order, reads.) "Subs will arrive in 
Passamaquoddy Bay about August sixth," and here it is 
August twenty-first. But I will wait, I may be needed yet. 
I had hoped to make the acquaintance of that young army 
officer that reached here several weeks ago, but as yet I have 
been unable to do so. He and his people seem to spend a 
great deal of time with Auntie, but it seems to be my luck 
to always miss him there, or if I do happen to go there 



30 

when he is there he usually leaves shortly after my arrival 
so I have not had hardly any chance to talk with him. If I 
could only get ta talk with him when there is no one else 
around I'll bet I could find out something. But he seems 
to be in love with Nita, and I suppose that he knows that I 
am altected the same way and for that reason he does not 
care for my association. It certainly seems strange that he 
sh'Ciald be here for so long. But Nita said that he told her 
he would be here until August the twenty-sixth so he will 
soon be going. Gee, how I wish I could have made his 
acquaintance without him suspecting me. If he would only 
be granted an extension to his furlough then my scheme 
might be made to work. But I suppose that an extension 
would simply mean more time for him with Nita and I 
would have no more chance of making his acquaintance 
than I have had in the past. I'll say that it has been a good 
thing for me that Nita promised me her hand before his 
arrival ; otherwise I might have lost out there. But as it is 
I have had no fear on that score. Yet I do wish that she 
had set an earlier date. But God knows what is best ; and 
as for her word of promise, well it is as good as the law 
itself. I have known her but a short time yet never was I 
so moved by womanly grace and charms as when I met her. 
If I could btit tell to her the secrets of the work that I am 
doing. But it is not fit, still I do not doubt her on her ability 
to keep my confidence. (Microphone buzzes.) Ah, there 
the microphone. (He listens, prepared to write.) Not 
much to that ; simply a sub streaming into the bay ; no mes- 
sage at all, but unlike the other this one did not leave the 
bav but is now resting somewhere along the bottom. That 
means that I must not leave my cabin today or at least until 
that craft pulls out. Golly, but it will be a tiresome day, 
more so than any that I have put in for some time. I haven't 
even a newspaper tc read and I dare not leave here to go 
for one. (Leger is heard whistling ofl: right.) Ah, here 
comes Leger, I will have him go for one for me. No, no, 
that would never do, he would be apt to tell some one that 
I had sent him and then they would begin to wonder why 
I had not run my own errand. And I must not let Leger 
come in here. (Leaves house, starts sawing wood to right 
of house.) 

Leger — Golly, see the old bey ride that saw. Gosh, but I am 
glad that I hain't you. 

Allen — Why, hello Leger! Scare a man to death, will you? 
AVhat in the world ever brought you down here ? 

Leger — Cause Old Granny wanted me to scrub the front porch 
for her. But I told her I couldn't because I didn't have any- 



31 

thing to scrub it with. S'C when she went to get the water 
and things I beat it. 

Allen — Leger, you ought to be ashamed of yourself for playing 
such a mean trick on your grandmother. 

Leger — I don't see why. I didn't play any trick on her anyway. 
She didn't tell me to wait, did she? And I told her I 
couldn't scrub her old porch, didn't I ? And then after I 
toild her that how did I know but what maybe she had 
changed her mind? And anyhow I didn't kerzactly know 
that she had went after the water, I just kinder thought that 
she did. Golly, did you think I was goin' to hang around 
and wait for her to tell me a second time ? Not much, i 
don't believe in havin' to be told twice to do a thing. Siie 
knc'wed more about how she wanted it done than I did any- 
how, so what's the use of me workin' all the time ? 

Allen — I am afraid that you are becoming rather lazy, aren't 
you i^ 

Leger — Golly no, I hain't lazy. I just didn't want to work, that's 
all. But I know what's the matter with you, I do. You're 
just mad 'cause that young soldier what has leather boots 
with the bottoms cut out is cuttin' you out with Miss Nita. 
I know, you can't fool me, that's what you can't. Golly, 
that young feller stays over there with Miss Nita all the time 
when you hain't there. And he plays tennis with her and 
everything. 

Allen — Well, well, but do you blame him for liking her? Don't 
you think she is nice ? 

Leger — Golly yes, but I'm afraid she likes him better'n she does 
me. 

Allen — Now, Leger, do not become discouraged, I think she 
likes everyone, and I know that slie likes you. 

Leger — Golly, I'm. goin' to ask her. I likes her a whole lot I 
know, and Joe and Tom and you and everybody likes her. 
And do you know I think that loe is helpin' that soldier 
feller? 

Allen — Why do you think so, Leger ? 

Leger — Cause I saw them sittin' on Mammy Cawl's porch one 
day and they was talkin' kinder low like, like fellers does 
when they talks about their girls, you know. Microphone 
buzzes during conversation.) 

Allen — Well, Leger, let's you and I work together, too. You 
run along up town and watch them; then tomorrow you 
oome back again and tell me all that you can find out about 
all of them. Now be sure and watch closely but do not let 
them know that we are working together. 

Leger — GoWy no; won't that be scrumptious? 

Allen — But hurry, Leger, or they may go away some place and 
you might then be unable to find them. 



32 

Leger — ( I'ulling at suspenders and walking out listlessly) — • 
Spects I had better hurry, they might be gettin' married if 
1 don't watch them. 

Allen — ■ Golly, I thought that I never would get rid of him, and 
that old microphone may have been bearing me good news. 
(Goes back to cabin.) He is always coming around when 
he is not wanted, and now maybe he has spoiled everything 
for me today. Yet I should not lay the blame altogether on 
him. If I had had good sense I would not have left the 
cabin but would have locked the door from the inside and 
kept quiet until he had gone away. In that way I could 
have kept account of all maneuverings in the bay. As it is 
I do not know whether my submarine is there or noi. But 
I suppose that I ought to consider myself fortunate in hav- 
ing obtained trace of this one. Supposing that Leger had 
come along just before it came within the reach of my 
apparatus, then I wculd have known nothing about its com- 
ing and of course would not have to wonder as to whether 
it had given me the slip. And such things could have hap- 
pened, and may have been happening right along. Day after 
day I have abandoned my hut when I did not need to do so, 
simply to go bathing, or maybe for a w^alk, or a game with 
Nita, when such could have been postponed as easily as not. 
But love seems blind ; it often causes one to neglect his 
duties for pleasant moments either in company with, or 
thoughts of, her upon whom he has centered his affections. 
Such is the way of us Americans, we permit personal feel- 
ings to interfere with our duties. Oh, how I wish that I 
had more of the German subjection of self. Had I but told 
Nita I am sure she would not have asked me to have neg- 
lected my post,- — ^ she is so thoughtful, so considerate of 
one's duty to the cause he supports. I will tell her all to- 
night, nothing will I withhold from her. Yet should I ? To 
those to whom I have promised my allegiance and from 
whom I have accepted this trust, I have sworn secrecy. No, 
no ! I must not, I cannot ! A promise is the test of man. 
I have given mine, I have no right to retract it. I do not 
feel that it is an evil promise or that the cause for which it 
was given is unjust. By my promise I shall stand the test. 
Not that I feel that promises need never be broken, for I 
do not. An unrighteous promise unbroken shows forth a 
man just as surely and as truly as a righteous one reveals 
his worth if it is broken. But my promise is a righteous 
one, righteously given to a righteous cause of a righteous 
people. I shall prove my worth. May Heaven help me. 
(Microphone buzzes, he listens, prepared to write, waits.) 
Another U-Boat enters the bay, and like the first it too lies 
still on the bottom. It may be that it is the same one that 



entered a while ago. for that erne could have slipped out 
while I was out talking with Leger, but it hardly sounded 
like the same one. But if it should be it makes no difference. 
I know now that there is at least one sub with which I have 
connections. After all, perhaps I have not done so awfully 
wrong. Had I neglected Nita entirely 1 would net have 
been about the resort at all and consequently I could not 
have avoided suspicion. At the same time I should have 
lost, my love. All in all it is best as it is. True love does 
not interfere with the works of man if man's plans are in 
harmciny with the will of the Divine. He never ceases to 
watch over all, and by His plan love is essential to man's 
existence if one is to enjoy the fullness of life. Nita, you 
are to be mine, not of my own choice alone, nor of yours, 
but of both guided by a higher power — the power of one 
who sees not only the present and the past, but the future as 
it should be and as it will be. True to that guidance I shall 
live with the present and trust to the future. 

[curtain.] 



SCENE n. (Scene same as Scene I. Time lo: 15 on night of 
same day. Night is dark and stormy. Scene opens with 
Allen receiving at microphone before open door.) 

Allen — Another roll call ; evidently one has not arrived. Per- 
haps it has been lost or destroyed while on the way. Already 
it seems that a whole crew is at hand, seven besides the 
leader are now in the bay. These have all been here since 
noon. And twice since that time the roll has been called 
and each time one was missing. I wonder if they will wait 
longer for its arrival, surely not ; an excellent night is at 
hand for the work and surely they will not miss the advan- 
tage that it offers. This must surely be the last roll call, 
action must begin soon. (Comes out of cabin, looks toward 
Krenlin.) Already all is quiet in the village; if the people 
there but knew the secrets of yonder bay (glances toward 
bay). What, did I see a hght? Another? Then I was not 
mistaken and from the position of those flashes Rock Island 
will surely be the place from which action must begin. I 
must reach there as soon as possible. (Dashes out right, 
leaving door open. After pause Lt. Cord, Joseph and 
Thomas enter from left, finding door open.) 

Joseph — The rascal has given us the slip, and for all we know 
maybe he has been doing so for the last few weeks. 



34 

Thomas — Now, Joe, don't get fussed, if he has been in the habit 
of leaving he has been more careful in the past than he has 
shown himself to be on this occasion. And what is more 
there has been a light here in the cabin every night for some 
time past and we have by looking through the cracks in the 
walls been able to get glimpses of him as he would move 
around. 

Lt. Cord — Tom is right. This is the night for which Kimes 
has been waiting. Practically every night since you made 
known to me your suspicions has been clear. This is the 
first dark night, and in his desire to get away he has neg- 
lected to close his door. I am sorry that we let him get 
away this time ; but now we will have a chance to look 
around among his possessions and in that way may be able 
to find out something before he returns. 

Joseph — You are right. Lieutenant. Tom, you go outside and 
stand watch. If you hear or see anyone whistle, and we 
shall seek cover. 

Tlioiiias — You goose, couldn't he hear me whistle as well as 
you could? I will accidentally come upon him and will 
engage him in ocnversation and then suddenly strangle as 
a sign to you. 

Joseph — Any old way, just so you keep him from finding us 
here. But hurry, he may be coming any time. (Thomas 
exits to the right ; the lieutenant and Joseph look about the 
room, with the aid of their flashlights. Joseph discovers 
microphone, puts it to his ear.) Say, Lieutenant, do you 
know what this thing is ? 

Lt. Cord. — (Looks at thing a minute, then holds it to his ear.) 
Joseph Rice, we have been beaten. He has played his game 
better than I had ever suspected. No wonder he built his 
cabin here at the edge 'of the timber; nor is it any wonder 
that we have not been able to catch him in his communica- 
tions with the enemy. By this simple device he has been 
able to sit right here in his cabin and have unlimited con- 
nection with his friends, whether they were out at sea, in 
Canada, or here in the United States. Listen! Pauses and 
writes.) Thank fortune I have not forgotten the Morse 
alphabet. Let's see, (pauses) here it is, "Admiral has gone 
for island, will report at 12:25". 

Joseph — That must be that little rocky island out here in the 
bay. No one lives on it and it would be just the place for 
such work. Campabello and Deer Islands, a little farther 
out, are inhabited, and consequently espionage work from 
such a base would likely be detected. 

Lt. Cord — You are likely right. Shall one of us keep watch 
here while the icther two go to the island? 



35 

Joseph — Is there any way to make a reply? 

Lt. Cord — None that I can see. 

Joseph — Then they will not likely wire again. That message 
has likely been a summons to him to meet them there. Con- 
sequently all three of us had better go to the island, and go 
well armed ; we do not know what we may have to encoun- 
ter. It is a certainty that Kimes and the admiral will be 
there, and we do not know how many the admiral may take 

with him. . i 

[curtain. J 



SCENE III. (Scene rocky island, seaweed overhanging from 
ledge ; Kimes hidden beneath seaweeds. Mrs. Cawls and 
Nita each dressed in black suits of men's clothing standing 
upon rocks. Town clock strikes twelve.) 

Nita — Was not that twelve ? 

Mrs. Cazds — Yes, my dear. We shall not likely have much 
longer to wait ; I hope not anyhow. They know that we 
must get back before morning, and I do not think they will 
keep us waiting here any longer than on previous occasions. 
The letter stated that we would be met at the usual place 
and time, and likely on this date. The twc flashes a little 
over an hour and a half ago, told us that they would be 
here. W^e shall not be disappointed, they will come soon. 

Nita — I know, mother, but I have been wondering if there could 
be such a thing as their lights having been seen and they 
were driven awa}- ? You know they signaled so much earlier 
than usual. Why, the people in Krenlin had hardly put out 
their lights when the two flashes w^ere seen. Or on the other 
hand do you suppose that some one could have learned of 
our scheme and so gave the signal to find us out : 

Mrs. Cazds — I hardly think so. No doubt they arrived 
earlier in the day, and were awaiting the time when all was 
quiet in Krenlin, and consequently after the last light had 
been extinguished they felt safe in giving us the signal. 

Nita — But if they are not to meet us here earlier than on pre- 
vious occasions w^e have over an hour to wait. 

Mrs. Cazvh — I believe we shall socii see them. I think that is 
the reason they signaled earlier than for common. They 
may have other work to do and may want to get out of here 
earlier than usual. 

Nita — Listen, I believe they are coming now. (Submarine is 
heard approaching at rear of island. Admiral accompanied 
bv two others comes from rear of island. Mrs. Cawls and 



36 

Nita stand with arms raised as soon as Nita ceases speak- 
ing; just before the admiral comes in sight he flashes a Hght, 
whereupon Mrs. Cawls and Nita cross their arms above 
their heads.) 

Airs. Cazvls — Ganz gut. 

Admiral — Das ist gut. (Sakites.) And what have our good 
• women for us tonight ? 

Mrs. Cawls — A division of the American army is to sail from 
Baltimore, Maryland, August the twenty-eighth; just coe 
week from today. 

Admiral — And the source of the information? 

Mrs. Cazvls — An army officer who is spending the summer in 
our resort. 

Admiral — And what is his rank? 

Mrs. Cazvls — A lieutenant. 

Admiral — And why is he not on duty? 

Mrs. Cazvls — ^ He was given a month's furlough previous to his 
sailing, and so he brought his mother and little brother to 
our resort for that time. 

Admiral — Why did he choose Krenlin? 

Mrs. Cazvls — That I do not know. 

Nita — Sir, I have endeavored to become quite intimate with 
him in order to learn all that I possibly could concerning 
him and the American forces, and all that I have been able 
to learn concerning his reasons for choosing Krenlin is be- 
cause of its far northerly position, and its quietness. He 
being desirous of getting his mother far away from her 
usual work for his last visit with her before he sailed. He 
is none too certain that he will ever return and so he wanted 
his last days with his mother as free from care and worry 
as possible. 

Admiral — And his last days they will be. Eight submarines lie 
quietly on the bottom of the bay, ready to sail forth at my 
command to meet the audacious Americans. Has our young 
lady made love to him ? 

Nita — I have not ; I have another lover. 

Admiral — But it is for the Fatherland. 

Nita — I have not seen where I could have done more for the 
beloved Fatherland than I have done. He has spoken freely 
with us as friends. 

Admiral — Does he suspect you? 

Mrs. Cazvls — He does not. At the time he mentioned the date 
for the sailing of the troops I cautioned him to speak with 
care and he accepted the advice as though it were prompted 
by patriotic reasons. 



Z7 

Admiral — Has he mentioned the date of the saiHng to any other 
than you? 

Mrs. Cazvls — His mother and three other girls that stay with 
me were present at the time. But he promised nc't to 
mention it again. The other girls are patriotic and loyal 
Americans and will not tell it. 

Admiral — What excuse did you give them for coming here 
tonight ? 

Mrs. Cazvls — They were asleep when we stole from the cot- 
tage. 

Admiral — And you are certain there is no other person about 
the resort who knows the date of the sailing? 

Mrs. Cazvls — Absolutely confident of it. 

Admrial — Then lest the Lieutenant's mother might become sus- 
picious of you and make known such things as to reveal 
the fact that it was you who disclosed the secret to us we 
shall call for you at this place during the night of August 
the thirty-first, and take you with us back to our beloved 
Fatherland. Such good work as you have done makes you 
deserving of the utmost protection that His Royal High- 
. ness can afford you. I would take you tonight, but your 
absence from the resort at this time would create interest 
and in searching for you we might be discovered. You will 
not be in danger before we return. 

Mrs. Cazvls — I hardly agree with what you have said ; we can 
leave the resort within the next week and return to our 
homes in the state of Ohio without arousing the least of 
suspicion either here or there. From there we may be able 
to serve the Fatherland and His Royal Highness, Emperor 
Wilhelm, to even greater advantage that we have as yet 
"been able to do. 

Admiral — It is well. You bespeak yourselves as loyal and de- 
voted subjects of His Most Gracious Highness. Guten tag, 
meine guten damen. (Departs). 

Mrs. Catvls and Nita — Adieu, der edelste Herr. 

Mrs. Cazvls — (After brief pause). Now we must hurry back 
to the mainland. (They turn and advance toward the rear, 
Allen clambers over the ledge). 

Allen — Stop, hands up! (draws knives) Face about! (as they 

turn Nita reaches for pocket; Allen advances) take that 

hand from that pocket or I will stab. (Lt. Cord, Joseph 

Rice, and Thomas Blake come upon the scene from the 

rear). ^ i 

[curtain. I 



38 

ACT V. (Scene outdoors. May be same as in Act II. Allen 
Kimes is sitting upon a log and digging into the ground 
with a small stick. I.t. Cord enters.) 

Lt. Cord — Mr. Kimes, the Major presents his compliments and 
asks me to state that no further stay of execution is to be 
granted. Also that the President has refused to set aside 
or to alter the verdict of the court martial. 

Allen — That means that at eight tonight the sentence must be 
duly executed. 

Lt. Cord — It seems that it must. The awf ulness of the deed 
and the assumed innocence of the conspirators have found 
no favor with the Major. Nor do I think that, since the 
activities of the day following the discovery of the true 
spies, public sentiment has favored leniency. 

Allen — It is true. Such crimes meditated upon and carried out 
in utter defiance of the law, by persons wholly cognizant of 
the results, are deserving of the severest of punishments. 
Yet I cannot help but dread that the fatal hour must come. 

Lt. Cord — And to think, Mr. Kimes, that throughout it all, not 
only I but Mr. Rice, and Mr. Blake, had suspected you as 
being a traitor to our country. Not until the night that we 
came upon you as you halted the guilty ones on the island, 
did I even so much as think of the government using her 
secret service men here. Even then I was at first inclined 
to think that the little transaction that we saw there was 
simply a ruse to throw us off the track ; but of course your 
statements and credentials as presented at the court martial 
have proven your innocence and established your identity 
beyond question. Now I trust that you will forgive us for 
harboring such thoughts of you ; you, who by the very actions 
for which we were condemning you, were unearthing the 
greatest conspiracy against our country that has as yet been 
discovered. 

Allen — Rest assured, my dear Sir, that I hold nothing against 
any of you. Such as you were permitted to learn, justified 
you in your suspicions. You were simply doing your duty 
as true Americans. But, Lieutenant, something of greater 
concern than that of which you speak is bearing down upon 
me ; my heart is heavily laden. May I speak with you as a. 
friend ? 

Lt. Cord — Gladly will I hear you. 

Allen — This has been a trying time for me. The thoughts of 
my duty of the very near future are appalling in the extreme. 
To me it is the taking of the blood of one's very own, and 
I wonder if there is any way by which I might get out of it. 
Do you know that Mrs. Cawls is my aunt, my mother's 
own sister? And to draw her still nearer to me she was 



39 

permitted to spend a great deal of time in our home during 
my childhood. 

Lt. Cord — Can it be true? Yet I can see no way out of it for 
you at this stage of the game. But since the execution of this 
punishment has developed upon us I shall assume that of 
your aunt and let you become accountable for the younger 
ladys' receipt of the punishment. Such an arrangement will 
please me the better for really I had begun to love Miss 
Collins. Her pleasing ways, her apparent whole-hearted 
devotion to her conscientious convictions, and her assumed 
open-mindedness had placed her within my estimation in a 
class by herself. 

Allen — Very well, let it be agreed as you have said, and hard 
though it may be for me to take Nita's life, I shall by so 
doing be able to assure Mother, that Auntie's blood was not 
spilt by my hands. 

Lt. Cord - — And I can have the assurance that my hand was not 
turned against her to whom I was beginning to look with 
longing love. Do you know, Mr. Kimes, it is hard to cast 
aside one's love even in such a time as this? When the one 
whom you cherish has been proven guilty, yes more than 
that, when you know her to be guilty of the darkest of 
crimes, treason. 

Allen — It is hard indeed. Oh why should such a love have 
.ever been fostered? Why should one so pleasing, so at- 
tractive, and so lovable as Nita, ever be permitted to stoop 
to such a deed? Lieutenant, I hope I am not transgressing 
upon your pleasures when I tell you that I too was in love 
with her; and what is more she had given me the promise 
of her hand so soon as this awful carnage should cease. 

Lt. Cord — Indeed. Then I cannot help but admire you the 
more for having loved her. Her charms and her absolute 
devotion to the causes she chose to champion, and now her 
devotion to that cause even unto death, cannot help but win 
for her the esteem of any mortal being. 

Allen — But now, Lieutenant, I have a suggestion to offer con- 
cerning the manner in which we shall carry out the verdict 
of the court-martial. The verdict simply requires that they 
be shot at eight P. M. on this date, and you and I have been 
designated as the executioners. 

Lt. Cord — I believe you are right. 

Allen - — And since no more has been said I believe that we are 
at liberty to supply the missing details. The shooting is 
bad indeed and much to be dreaded, especially so since it 
concerns those whom we have come to know so intimately. 
But worse to me than the shooting is the fall of the bodies. 
Already within my ears I hear the thud of those dead bodies, 
the bodies of those whom I love, one of mv own blood, the 



40 

other my betrothed, as they fall to the ground ; such a sen- 
sation if permitted to materialize will be lasting with me ;: 
and the more so should the sudden expulsion of air from 
the lungs produce a recongnizable sound, my heart must 
stand still. Such will be more than I can stand. Therefore 
I suggest that we bind each to a tree so that when the 
deadly shots have been fired no thud of the falling bodies 
need be borne to our ears. Then when we have regained 
our self-composure we can lay them quietly down with the 
utmost respect to the bodies. 

Lt. Cord — An excellent idea. I shall go for the ropes now. We 
must have everything in readiness so that no time need be, 
lost. 

AIIoi — Yes, the hour draws near. ( Lt. Cord exits left). Oh, 
how I would that this awful duty might pass from me. 
Dear Auntie, always so kind and loving, always so thought- 
ful of mother and of me. Why did you do this? Could 
money have been the item? Oh God, is liberty so little 
prized and loyalty so lacking as to be directed and com- 
manded by the gold of man? Heaven forbid. Oh God, why 
hast Thou permitted this to be so ? Why hast Thou per- 
mitted a government to develop that would not only stoop 
so low as to undermine another nation but to undermine the 
families of those who would be faithful and loyal to the 
government to whom they owe their allegiance? Germany,, 
you must pay for this. Would that I, personally, were able 
to make vou answer for it all. You have robbed me of my 
aunt and of mv love. May the very semblance of the na- 
tionality that is yours, founded as it is upon militarism with 
its deeds of horror be wrested from you before the end of 
this struggle. (As he draws to a close he rises in a defiant 
attitude). 

Lf. Cord — (Returning with ropes) Did you say to bind them 
to trees? ■ 

Allen — I think that will be the best. We shall tie one to the 
tree there to the left and the other to this tree here by me.. 
And now we must hurry ; time is growing short. 

Lt. Cord — What shall we do with the bodies ? 

Allen — We cannot give them a respectable burial, but we can 
treat their bodies with respect. Accordingly I have made 
two rude caskets, the best that I could make with the ma- 
terial that I could secure ; within these we shall lay them 
away. I also think best to consign them to Mother Earth. 
And as Auntie so loved Krenlin, and Nita so loved the out- 
door life, I think best to lay them away here in the woods 
which Bryant has So truthfully said: "Were God's first tem- 
ples". Consequently I have dug two graves side by side on 
yonder hilltop. 



41 

Lt. Cord — A'ery well. Now let us go for the offenders. (Exeunt 
left ; after pause they return with women, both of whom 
are blindfolded, and bind them loosely to trees, Mrs. Cawls 
to the left, Nita to the right ; they must be so bound as to 
allow free use of forearms.) 

Allen — (Speaking while binding them to trees) Auntie, is 
there nothing I can do for you before the end must come? 
Is there any promise consistent with my honor and duty that 
I can make to you? And have you no word for mother? 

Mrs: Cazvls — Nothing. (Lt. Cord and Allen take posts and 
draw pistols). 

Allen — Have either of you a last word or request ? 

A^ita — (With laugh) If we had aught to say, it should have 
been said before this. 

Boys — (Leveling pistols) Then Good-Bye. (Both fire. Mrs. 
Cawls body reels back of tree as though to conceal wound 
and flowing blood. Allen has fired wide. Nita snatches 
blindfold from eyes and exclaims) 

Nita — -Why do you hesitate? That is the way with you Amer- 
icans — personal love and hatred conie before the love of 
country. With us. the love for the Fatherland surpasses all 
else. (Laughs) Why do you not shoot? Will womanlv 
love direct your cowardly acts? (Allen regains himself, 
fires the second time, this time aiming true ; Nita clasps, her 
hands over heart releasing cork to a bottle containing blood ; 
Bottle having been concealed within bosom ; at same time 
she exclaims: -'Deutschland Uber Alles." (Hands drop) 

Alleri — America is avenged. 

TABLEAUX : — Goddess of Liberty appears at center waving 
American flag. Chorus from the right and left, sing: 
"And the star spangled banner in triumph shall wave 
O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave." 

[curtain.] 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



015 973 679 9 



3 



